The Grand Lodge Of France.

The Grand Lodge of France .

THE severance of all Masonic relations between the Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Orient of France , some thirty years since , was a step taken with great reluctance and regret , but was necessitated at the time by the action of the French Masonic authorities , and , we believe , fully justified .

No attempts at a raprochemcnl between the two Grand Lodges have since been made , but it is inevitable that in these clays of the " Entente Cordiale " the Freemasons of both countries should share the desire for more friendly relations , if such a happy state of things could in any way be

brought about . The Grand Lodges of the United States , as well as those of all English-speaking peoples , are at one with the Grand Loclge of England in regarding the Grand Orient as having wholly departed from the ancient landmarks , but it is of

interest to note that communications in identical terms have quite recently been addressed to the Grand Lodges of Iowa and Louisiana by a body styling itself " The Grand Loclge of France , " and at a meeting of the Grand Lodge of the former body , the Committee of correspondence presented the following

report which will be read with interest in all jurisdictions : — " To the Most Worshipful the Grand Lodge of Iowa , and the Most Worshipful Grand Master .

" Very clear Brethren : 1 he Grand Lodge of France , which has always made effort to remain faithful to the traditions of the ancient and pure Masonry of St . John , and particularly to those usages which were introduced into France during the first half of the eighteenth century , is desirous of entering into friendly and fraternal relations

with all the regular Masonic bodies of the globe . It would be especially agreeable to this body to enter into an official relationship with the Grand Lodges of the United States , in order that those of its members who may travel in America can be recognized as regular Masons .

" In order to obtain such result we have taken up the matter with the Most Worshipful Grand Lodges of New York and Louisiana . Without waiting the action and answer of these two great Masonic bodies we now put into effect the intention of making to your Most Worshipful Body the same

proposition , relative to a mutual exchange of friendship , sanctioned on the part of the Grand Lodge of Iowa , to recognize officially the Grand Loclge of France as a regular Masonic body . ' We address to you , by the same mail , a copy of our

Constitutions , and will leave it entirely with you whether you wish us to furnish other documents and information , such as would , in your judgment , be useful in considering this matter .

" You will certainly consider , as we do , that the highest interests of the Fraternity demand that it shall be universal , and that a constant exchange of ideas should be brought about between the Masons of France and America , to the moral and intellectual benefit of the two countries . Therefore , after having informed yourselves , so far as we are

concerned in the matter , we trust that you will not refuse to hold out to us a fraternal hand . " Awaiting your action we beg of you to believe in our fraternally devoted feelings . " This document is signed by the Grand Master and Grand

Secretary , and is under seal of the Grand Lodge of France . To pass upon this request , intelligently and justly , requires some special knowledge , and a very cautious analysis of the entire situation . Our proceeding in this matter will be followed with interest by other Grand Lodges and may

afford a precedent in one or another direction . As is well known , Masonry in France has been for many years under interdict of Craft bodies throughout the English-speaking world . This unfortunate state of affairs was brought about by act of the general assembly of the Grand Orient of France , which on September 14 th , 1877 , made radical change in its

constitution , which was deemed utterly subversive of Masonic ideas . The paragraph thus changed originally read : — " Freemasonry has for its principles the existence of God , the immortality of the soul and the solidarity of mankind . " Under the influence of a radical and atheistic element this paragraph was excised from the constitution of the Grand Orient , and in its place the following was substituted : —

" Being an institution essentially philanthropic , philosophic and progressive , Masonry has for its immediate objects the search after truth , study of universal morality , science and arts , and the practice of benevolence , it has for its principles the utmost liberty of conscience and human solidarity , and its motto is liberty , equality and fraternity . "

As a statement of principles inspiring human action no exception can be taken to this . Objection is not and has not been to the paragraph as an enumeration of principles , but to omission therein of that which is regarded as a sine qua non of Masonic pronouncements—belief in Deity . The

breach thus made between Masonry in France and that of England and America was widened by increasing radicalism on the part of the Grand Orient . In consequence , edicts of non-intercourse were issued by the Anglo-Saxon bodies , and have been strictly enforced . As a result , knowledge of later Masonic developments in the Gallic republic has been almost entirely lacking . Indeed , among Masons otherwise

well informed there has been lamentable ignorance on all matters pertaining to the fraternity in France . Your committee has been somewhat fortunate in having , during the past few months , and for another purpose , given considerable attention to French Masonry , gaining from authorative sources much information upon the subject . It became

apparent , even at the outset , that the Grand Loclge of France , constituted by lodges which had previously held from the Supreme Council of the A . & A . S . Rite , represented a conservative element of the fraternaty in that country . It was found that this body , while being true to the ideals of

the nation , was nevertheless untainted with the peculiar heresies of the Grand Orient , and that it emphatically reprobated the political role assumed by this latter body . But the Grand Orient , being before the public eye , was accepted as standing for French Masonry in all its parts ; and without any distinction being made , the Gallic Craft has been unsparingly condemned .

The fact was also revealed that the Grand Lodge of France was seeking to put itself in touch and harmony with Anglo-Saxon Masonry . We would refer those interested in this phase of the subject , and also those who would understand the ground occupied by the Grand Orient , to letters which are appended to the report on correspondence .

The statements already made in our special report on Porto Rico as to legitimacy of lodges and grand lodges deriving from supreme councils need no repetition in this place . Nor is it necessary to set forth again the fact that this grand loclge has not drawn distinctions of legitimacy

as between bodies of the two rites , when that point alone was to be considered . The sole question for us now is upon position of the Grand Lodge of France as to requisite belief in Deity ; whether such belief be within the Masonic meaning of the term . Upon this hinges the claim for

recognition . As for the stand of the Supreme Council of France of which until lately these lodges were constituent members , we have the authoritive statement of R . W . Bro . Charles T . McClenachan ( Addendum Mackey ' s Encyclopedia of Masonry ) who says :

" The Supreme Counncil of the A . A . Scottish Rite in France , however , stood and still stands true to all the principles of Masonry , prominently including the Father which is in Heaven , Who was , is and ever shall be in His personal existence . "